Sanitary seal for drinking cups



June 1943- F. M. DESSART SANITARY SEAL FOR DRINKING CUPS Filed Sept. 30, 1959 INVENTOR, 'F'rQhi' WZ fifflessari.

a IATTORNE).

r Eatented June I I i y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANITARY SEAL FOR DRINKING CUPS Franklyn M. Dessart, New York, N. Y. 1 Application September 30, 1939, Serial No. 297,264

21 Claims. (01. 206-65) This invention relates to sanitary means for a plurality of slightly tapered drinking cups C protecting drinking cups, and more particularly each nested within and projecting above the cup to nested drinking cups provided with sanitary next below though the invention is adapted for seals for keeping the cups and tips thereof clean, use with glass tumblers or other articles. The though it is noted that in some of the claims the 5 sanitary seal S may be made of thin and/or waxed invention is not limited to nests of cups. paper, Cellophane or other suitable material and One object of the invention is to provide an isremovably received on, covers and protects the improved seal adapted to be received on the lip lip L and projecting part of each cup. of a cup or the like to keep the latter clean Each seal comprises a strip of paper joined or with a nest set of paper drinking cups comprising 60 seal.

until ready for use. overlapped at its ends to form an annulus and Other objects of the invention are to provide folded to providean inner skirt E having vertical an improved seal for the cups of nests arranged pleats or overfolds for engaging and extending a to protect the lips and all exposed parts of the short distance down the inner face of the lip L, intermediate cups of the nest. and an outer skirt F having vertical pleats en- Additional objects of the invention are to efgaging the outer face of the cup at the lip and exfect simplicity and efliciency in such seals and tending down to or into the skirt next below, nests and to provide an extremely simple device thereby to cover the lip and all portions of the of this kind which is convenient, sanitary and cups which project above the other cups. A fold reliable in operation, and economical to manu- Hi over the lip edge integrally connects said facture and apply. skirts E and F. One of the skirts preferably said Still other objects of the invention will appear outer skirt F is provided with downwardly proas the description proceeds; and while herein dejected tab T eng in against the o r face K of tails of the invention are described in the specithe cup nd Pr j into h p n xt low flcation and some of the claims, the invention as and adapted when exposed, on separation of a described in the broader claims is not limited to cup, to be rasped for pulling oif the seal from these, and many and various changes may be the lip, t by to expose the p v u y sanitarily made without departing from the scope of the covered and protected lip and present it in clean invention as claimed in the broader claims 7 sanitary condition for use.

The inventive features for the accomplishment The Seal serves to Protect the PS during l of these and other objects are shown herein'in Di Sterage, Sale. a d wh n he connection with a sanitary nest of cups whi h cups are being inserted in cup dispensers. If the briefly stated, includes a plurality of cups each up are supp d in n s s r s y to users withnested within and projecting above the cup next out the use of a dispensin device, th s l m y below, and a strip of thin paper or the like form d remain on the cup until just before it is used for into an annular seal removably received on the 5 r nking, thus insuring a clean and sanitary lip of each cup and comprising an inner skirt endrinking i 1 I gaging" the inner face of the lip and an outer If nests of glass or other fragile tumblers or skirt engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip, centainers a u the pleated inner skirt E the outer skirt being provided with a downwardly v s as a c hi ning means to p v nt breakage. projected tab for removing the seal before 40 As h wn n Fi' 2. the pl s f the seal are drinking downwardly tapering substantially to a point at In the accompanying drawing showing, by way the lower edge of the outer skirt, whereby the of example, one of many possible embodiments of outer skirt is free of pleats or wrinkles at the th inv nti lower edge, whereby the seal may tightly engage Fig. 1 is a fragmental side elevation showing the outer face of the cup below the largest dithe pleated strip from which seal is made; ametel 0f the P t the pp e. th e y t Fig. 2 is a. fragmental side elevation showing facilitate retaining the Seal 011 the 11panest of cups with sealson the lips thereon, parts AS Shown n h i ner skirt of the seal b i t away to Show t b against t outer extends only a short distance down the inside of f of t uppermost cup; the cup, whereby the seal may be retained on the Fig; 3 is a plan of a cup or nest; nearly filled cup without touching the contents, Fig. 4 is a fragmental transverse vertical secand then easily r m v j before the p i tional view, partly in perspective, showing a. fragdrunk from, thus to retain the lip of the cup enment of the seal removed or ready to be aptirely free of contamination until the contents are pli d; nd served.

Fig. 5 shows a transverse section taken sub- As shown in Fig. 2, the outer skirt of the seal stantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking in the On e Outside Of the cup y extend downwardly direction of the arrows of'said line. a short distance into the nested cup next below,

My improved seals are shown in combination thus to prevent contamination just below th the lip, thereby gaging and extending a short distance down the inner face of the lip; an outer skirt having vertical pleats engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip and extending down to or into the cup next below, thereby to cover the lip and all portions of the cups which project above the other cups; and a fold over the lip edge integrally connecting said skirts; said outer skirt being provided with downwardly projected tab projecting into the cups next below and adapted when exposed on separation of a cup from the next to be grasped for pulling off the seal from the lip; thereby to expose the previously sanitarily covered and protected lip and present it in clean sanitary condition for use.

2. A sanitary nest-set of paper drinking cups, comprising, in combination a plurality of slightly tapered drinking cups each nested within and projecting above the cup next below; and an annular sanitary seal of thin paper or other suitable material removably received on, covering and protecting the lip and projecting part of each cup, each seal comprising an inner skirt having pleats or over folds engaging and extending a short distance down the inner face of the lip; an outer .skirt having pleats engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip and extending down to or into the cup next below, thereby to cover the lip and all portions of the cups whichproject above the other cups; and a fold over the lip edge integrally connectin said skirts.

3. A nest set of drinking cups, comprising, in

combination cups each nested within and projecting above the cup next below; and an annular sanitary .seal of thin material removably loosely received on, covering and protecting the lip and projecting part of each cup and stretchable in circumferential direction, each seal comprising an inner skirt engaging and extending only a short distance down the inner face of the lip; an outer skirt engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip and extending down to or only a short distance into the cup next below; said skirts being formed into cushions to cushion the cups from each other, and a fold over the lip edge integrally connecting said skirts; the material of said skirts and fold being continuous and free of openings; the limited length of the skirts and the stretchability of the seal facilitating easy upward rewithout preliminary provided with a downwardly projected tab pro-,

jecting into the cups next below and adapted when exposed on separation of a cup from the next to be grasped forpulling off the seal from tarily covered and protected lip and present it in clean sanitary condition for use.

5.-A sanitary nest set of drinking cups, comprising, in combination a plurality of slightly expose thepreviously saniceived on, covering and protecting the lip and the lip and all portions of the cups which project above the other cups; the pleats of the skirts forming cushions to cushion the cups from each other; and a fold over the lip edge integrally connecting said skirts; the material of said skirts and fold being continuous and free of openings, in order to protect the cup'lip; said outer skirt being provided with a downwardly projected tab projecting into cups next below and adapted when exposed on separation of a cup from the next to be grasped for pulling off the seal from the lip.

6. A sanitary nest set of drinking cups, comprising, in combination tapered drinking cups, each nested within and projecting above the cup next below; and an annular seal of a single piece of thin material loosely received on, covering and protecting the lip and projecting part of each cup; each seal comprising an inner skirt having vertical pleats, rendering the skirt stretchable,

and engaging and extending only a short discushion the cups from each other, and a fold over the lip edge integrally connecting said skirts, the material of said skirts and fold being continuous and free of openings, in order to protect the cup lip.

7. A nest set of cups, comprising nested cups each projecting above the cup next below; and an annular sealof thin material removably received on and continuously covering the lip of each cup and comprising an inner skirt engaging the inner face of the lip, an outer skirt engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip and extending to the seal next below, and a fold disposed over the lip and connecting said skirts; said seal extending only a short distance down the inside of the cup.

8. A nest set of cups, comprising nested downwardly tapered cups each projecting above the cup next below; and an annular seal of thin material removably received on the lip of each cup and comprising an inner skirt engaging the inner face of the lip and extending only a short distance down the cup, an outer skirt closely engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip, and a fold disposed over the lip and connecting the skirts; the diameter of each cup being largest at the upper edge, the outer skirtbeing free of pleats or wrinkles at the lower edge and closely engaging the outer face of the cup for retaining the seal on the cup.

9. A nest set of cups, comprising nested downwardly tapered drinking cups each projecting above the cup next below; and an annular, seal of thin material removably received on, and 'unadhered to, the lip of each cup and comprising an inner skirt engaging the lrmer face of the lip,

. an outer skirt engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip and extending into the seal of the cup next below, and a fold disposed over the lip and connecting said skirts; said seal extending only a short distance down the inside of the cup and into the next lower seal on the outside; the diameter of each cup being largest at the upper edge, the lower part of the outer skirt being free of wrinkles or folds and snugly engaging the cup below the largest diameter of the cup for facilitating holding the seal on the cup.

10. In combination, a drinking cup; and an annular seal of thin material removably received on the lip of the cup and comprising a pleated inner skirt engaging the inner face of the lip, an outer skirt closely engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip, and a folddisposed over the lip and connecting the skirts; the outer skirt having pleats forming continuations of the pleats of the inner skirt and downwardly tapering substantially to a point at the lower edge of the outer skirt.

11. A nest set of cups, comprising nested cups each projecting above the cup next below; and an annular seal of thin material removably received on the lip of each cup and comprising a pleated inner skirt engaging the inner face of the lip, an outer skirt closely engaging the outer face. of the cup at the lip, and a fold disposed over the lip and connecting the skirts; the outer skirt having pleats forming continuations of the pleats of the inner skirt and downwardly tapering substantially to a point at the lower edge of the outer skirt, whereby the outer skirt is free of pleats or wrinkles at the lower edge, whereby the seal closely engages the outer face of the cup.

12. A nest set of cups, comprising nested downwardly tapered drinking cups each projecting above the cup next below; and an annular seal of thin material removably received on the lip of each cup and comprising an innerskirt engaging and extending only a short distance down the inner face of the lip, an outer skirt engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip, and extending a short distance substantially to the seal of the cup next below, and a part disposed over the lip and connecting said skirts; said seal continuously effectively covering all parts of the lip and outer face of the cup above the seal next below.

13. A nest set as in claim 12, the diameter of each cup being largest at the upper edge and smaller at the lower edge of the outer skirt; all parts of the lower edge of the outer skirt being free of folds and forming a continuous annulus engaging the cup at said smaller diameter.

14. A nest set as in claim 12 said outer skirt at said lower edge engaging the cup tightly enough to hold the seal on the cup.

15. A nest set of cups comprising nested downwardly tapered drinking cups each projecting above the cup next below; and an annular seal of thin material-removably received on the lip of each cup and comprising an inner skirt engaging and extending only a short distance down the inner face of the lip, an outer skirt engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip, and extending only a short distance into the seal of the cup next below, and a fold disposed over the lip and connecting said skirts; said seal being free of openings and continuously covering all parts of the lips and outer face of the cup above the seal next below, thereby to protect the set from contamination.

16. A nest set as in each cup being largest cup and smaller at the skirt; all parts of the claim 15, the diameter of at the upper edge of the lower edge of the outer lower edge of the outer skirt forming a continuous annulus with all parts firmly joined together all around and snugly engaging the cup at said smaller diameter of the cup some distance below said largest diameter tightly enough to extend into the seal next below and to prevent the removal of the seal from the cup past the largest diameter except by tearing the seal, thereby holding preventing contamination of the nested cups.

17. A nest set of cups, comprising nested downwardly tapered drinking cups projecting above the cup next below; and an annular seal of thin material removably received on and unadhered to, the lip of each cup and comprising an inner skirt engaging and extending only a short distance down the inner face of the lip, an outer skirt engaging the outer face of the cup at the lip, and extending a short distance substantially to the seal of the cup next below, and a part disposed over the lip and connecting said skirts; said seal being free of openings and extending continuously around and covering all parts of the lip and outer face of the cup above the seal next below, thereby to protect the set from contamination; the diameter of each cup being largest at the upper edge of the cup and smaller at the lower edge of the outer skirt; all parts of the lower edge of the outer skirt being free of wrinkles or folds and forming a continuous annulus with all parts firmly joined together all around and snugly engaging the cup at said smaller diameter of the cup some distance below the largest diameter of the cup.

18. A nest set as in claim 17, said lower edge engaging the cup at said smaller diameter tightly enough to prevent the removal of the seal from the cup except by tearing the seal, thereby holding the seal on the cup, and preventing contamination of the nested cups.

19. A nest set as in claim 17, each outer skirt having pleats downwardly tapering substantially to a point at the lower edge of the outer skirt.

20. In combination, a downwardly tapered skirt engaging the outer face of the cupat the lip, and extending a short distance down, and a part posed over the lip and connecting said skirts;

cup abovethe lower edge of the seal, thereby to protect the lip from contamination; the diameter of the cu being largest at the upper edge and smaller at the lower edge of the outer skirt; all parts of the lower edge of the outer skirt forming parts firmly Joined dental removal of the seal from the cup, thereby holding the seal on the lip.

21. A combination as in claim 20, the outer skirt having pleats downwardly tapering substantially to a point at the lower edge of the outer the seal on the cup, and 7 

